While small business loans can take a month or more to put together, merchant cash advances generally move very swiftly. Some providers can disburse funds in as little as seventy-two hours while here at merchantcashadvancers.com we typically take about seven business days.
Cash advances are relatively easy to obtain, but you'll still have to gather some information and documentation before you apply. The basic steps to qualifying for an advance are selecting an approved credit card processor, submitting your application for the advance, and reviewing the contract.
Select an Approved Credit Card Processor
Some cash advance providers require that you use an affiliated credit card processing company. At Merchant Cash Advance Nation, we merely have to approve the processing company of your choice. This is to ensure that their system is compatible with our products, as well as to confirm that you're working with a stable and reliable credit card company.
Submit your Application
While the application for a merchant cash advance is far less complicated than those for business loans, there is still some information you must provide. Most often, you will need to answer some basic questions about yourself and your business, and supply credit card statements to support your ability to repay the advance. Then, the merchant cash advance provider will evaluate your information, paying careful attention to the average monthly income of your business and the average monthly credit/debit card sales. The required monthly average differs from provider to provider, but typically your business must have at least nine months of operation history, and average $5,000 / month in credit/debit sales.
Review the Contract
If your application for a business cash advance is successful, you'll receive a contract that specifies the amount of your advance, the total amount of future credit/debit card receipts that you've sold to obtain your advance, the percentage of daily receipts that will go toward repaying the advance and any terms that exist to address things like what happens if either party fails to uphold any part of the agreement. All if this information will help you understand exactly how much you will pay for your advance, and for how long.
Assuming that there is nothing unexpected in your contract, you will sign it, return it to your merchant cash advance provider, and await receipt of your funds.
Timing is crucial, and that being able to obtain liquid capital quickly and easily can mean the difference between a boom or bust year for your business. We look forward to helping you as your business continues to grow and expand. http://merchantcashadvancers.com
1. Merchant Cash Advances vs. Small Business Loans – A
Question of Risk
At Merchant Cash Advance Nation, we are certainly not opposed to the Small Business
Association (SBA). We recognize that the SBA is more than a source of funds, but a
significant supporter of small businesses and their owners throughout the nation.
We also believe that it‟s important to consider all funding options before choosing one. The
SBA has the cachet of history and stability, while merchant cash advances do not, but there
are some downsides to an SBA loan.
SBA Loans are inherently risky
One of the biggest disadvantages to a loan from the Small Business Administration is risk.
For both the lender and the borrower these are high-risk loans.
For the lender, the greatest risk is that the borrower will default. Statistics from 2009 (the
most recent year for which complete data exists) show that about 12% of small business
loans “failed” that year. That means they went into default.
For borrowers the risk of default is also high, especially in businesses which depend on
seasonal volume (ice cream shops, holiday décor stores) to make the bulk of their income or
from start-ups which lack the brand loyalty and history needed to stay afloat during slow
times. Another risk, though, is that of losing personal assets, because small business owners
often secure their business loans with their personal savings, or with their cars and/or
homes.
Why is the failure rate so high? Part of the problem is that SBA loans – like all bank loans
– are fairly inflexible. Once the contract is signed, the payment amounts and due dates are
fixed, and even one missed payment
could trigger dire consequences.
Merchant Cash Advances may be
better options
If you‟re a restaurant owner, retailer,
or other small businessperson, then,
and you don‟t wish to risk your
family‟s security on your business,
good for you. Chances are, you‟re also
pretty cautious when it comes to
incurring any kind of debt, whether or
not it comes with a fancy government
guarantee.
Where, then, do you turn for the
infusion of liquid capital that your
2. business sorely needs, especially during a time when sales are slow? A bank loan is one
option, but a merchant cash advance may be a better one.
While it‟s true that merchant cash advance payments can take away a significant portion of
your monthly credit card receipts, it‟s also true that those payments will be smaller when
business is slower. As well, merchant cash advances do not typically require collateral of
any kind, just proof that your business has been operating for a minimum length of time,
and doing a minimum amount of volume.
Merchant cash advances are also easier to obtain – no credit scores or extensive paperwork
– and can be set up without a fixed repayment term, so while we say that most advances are
repaid within a year, we really do mean „most‟ and not „all.‟
There is an old adage that „it takes money to make money.‟ At Merchant Cash Advance
Nation, we, like other merchant cash advance providers, understand that a business
without working capital is doomed to failure.
We cannot tell you that a merchant cash advance is absolutely the best choice for you and
your business. We can tell you that you should at least consider the option with the least
amount of risk.
Merchant Cash Advances – Say YES to No Collateral
When you research merchant cash advances, one of the common advantages you’ll see touted,
whether you’re looking here at Merchant Cash Advance Nation, or at any other reputable
provider, is that we don’t require collateral. What you may not understand is that “No Collateral”
is another way we say “yes” to your working capital needs.
3. Why is No Collateral a good thing?
A great number of small business owners use their personal assets in order to obtain funding for
their companies. Sometimes this can be an easy source of funds, as in the case of a refinance or
second loan on a home, but when a business fails – especially if the owner’s home or car has put
up as collateral for a loan – those assets can be seized by banks and creditors.
Put another way, if you used a home
equity line of credit (HELOC) to fund
your business, and your business goes
under, causing you to miss payments on
the credit line, the bank could foreclose
on your house in order to recover the
funds from that loan.
With a merchant cash advance, however,
collateral is not typically required, so your
personal assets are not at risk.
Why don‟t merchant cash advance
providers require collateral?
If requiring collateral is standard practice in money-lending, and merchantcash advance
providers don’t require it, how can they be sure their clients won’t just walk away without
repaying their advance?
One reason is that merchant cash advances, whether they’re standard credit/debit sales advances
or ACH advances, are designed so that not paying is isn’t even an option. Payment is taken
directly from the credit card processor or via an automatic sweep of bank accounts. No one is
writing a monthly check to a lender, so as long as the business stays in operation and continues
to accept credit cards, payments will be made.
Another reason is the vast array of information that is so easily obtainable in the modern world.
Merchant cash advance companies may not look at credit scores, but they can – and do – analyze
the volume of credit/debit card sales your company transacts, and those numbers are not difficult
to verify.
This means that when a merchant cash advance provider says “yes,” to your application, they
already have a reasonable certainty that your business can generate the necessary volume for a
swift, steady repayment plan.
Merchantcash advances are not the best fit for every borrower or every business. It’s quite likely
that you, as a small business owner, will use a variety of funding sources as your business grows.
Still, cash advances are a good way to get capital quickly, with a minimum number of
restrictions.
4. How to Qualify for a Merchant Cash Advance
While small businessloans can take a month or more to put together, merchant cash advances
generally move very swiftly. Some providers can disburse funds in as little as seventy-two hours
while here at merchantcashadvancers.com we typically take about seven business days.
Cash advances are relatively easy to obtain, but you’ll still have to gather some information and
documentation before you apply. The basic steps to qualifying for an advance are selecting an
approved credit card processor, submitting your application for the advance, and reviewing the
contract.
Select an Approved Credit Card Processor
Some cash advance providers require that you use an affiliated credit card processing company. At
Merchant Cash Advance Nation, we merely have to approve the processing company of your
choice. This is to ensure that their system is compatible with our products, as well as to confirm that
you’re working with a stable and reliable credit card company.
Submit your Application
While the application for a merchant cash advance is far less complicated than those for business
loans, there is still some information you must provide. Most often, you will need to answer some
basic questions about yourself and your business, and supply credit card statements to support your
ability to repay the advance. Then, the merchant cash advance provider will evaluate your
information, paying careful attention to the average monthly income of your business and the
average monthly credit/debit card sales. The required monthly average differs from provider to
provider, but typically your business must have at least nine months of operation history, and
average $5,000 / month in credit/debit sales.
Review the Contract
If your application for a business cash
advance is successful, you’ll receive a
contract that specifies the amount of your
advance, the total amount of future
credit/debit card receipts that you’ve sold
to obtain your advance, the percentage of
daily receipts that will go toward repaying
the advance and any terms that exist to
address things like what happens if either
party fails to uphold any part of the
agreement. All if this information will help
you understand exactly how much you will
5. pay for your advance, and for how long.
Assuming that there is nothing unexpected in your contract, you will sign it, return it to your
merchant cash advance provider, and await receipt of your funds.
Timing is crucial, and that being able to obtain liquid capital quickly and easily can mean the
difference between a boom or bust year for your business. We look forward to helping you as
your business continues to grow and expand.
How to Shop for a Merchant Cash Advance
We understand that for the small business owner, the ability to expand your business, either to
improve your product offerings, or to serve a greater number of clients, is vital. We also know that
order to do that, you’ll need liquid capital.
Obviously business loans are an option, but if you want greater flexibility of payments and fewer
restrictions on how funds are used, or of credit scores are a problem, a merchant cash advance may
be the better option.
When shopping for your cash advance,
there are several things you’ll want to
consider:
Costs and Fees: Look for a
merchant cash advance that comes
without up-front fees and requires
no closing costs.
Collateral: Some cash advance
providers require that you provide
collateral. We advise you to seek a
provider where this is not a
requirement.
Payment Structure: While most
cash advance providers arrange for
payments to be based strictly on sales volume, some want you to agree to a fixed payment.
Look for a provider that lets you choose your payment structure, or opt for a non-fixed
payment.
Repayment Term: While a fixed term for repayment is the norm, we suggest looking for a
cash advance provider who will not require a fixed term.
6. Credit Scores: While credit scoring is not typically used to determine whether or not a cash
advance will be granted, you may get more favorable terms from a merchant cash advance
provider who requires scores above 500.
Documentation: Some cash advance providers ask for twenty-four months of credit card
sales records; it’s much easier if you find a provider who only wants six to twelve months of
records. Likewise, some merchant cash advance applicants are asked to provide financial
statements for every advance, but it’s better to seek an advance where you only have to
provide this information if you’re asking for a large sum (over $75,000).
Advance Amount: Not all cash advance providers offer large amounts of money. If your
plans are extensive, make sure to choose a provider that offers merchant cash advances of
$300,000 or more.
Be aware that you may not be able to find a merchant cash advance provider that meets all of your
criteria. Trust your instincts, and if a company offers everything you want, but still doesn’t feel
“right,” take your business elsewhere.
90% of applicants are approved for funding, and credit scores are not an issue. When others say
you can’t, we say you can Merchantcashadvancers.com
Purposes of a Merchant Cash Advance
When you apply for a cashadvance you can do so knowing that we put no limitations on the way
you use your funds. If you already have a purpose in mind when you apply, that’s excellent, and we
look forward to helping you grow your business. If you’re just beginning the process of looking for
business capital, however, it might be useful to learn about some of the common purposes for
advances.
To be honest, your merchant cash advance can be used for almost anything your business requires,
and, since the application is very simple, and funds are disbursed quickly – typically within seven
business days – a cash advance can be a good source of “emergency” capital. Still most people use
these advances in one of three ways:
Protecting Personal Assets:
Many small business owners, especially sole proprietors, use their personal assets – houses, cars,
savings accounts – if their business suffers a significant loss. If a client sues for damages or a storm
destroys all or part of your building, a cashadvance can be used to pay for legal representation, or to
cover repairs while you wait for an insurance settlement, so you don’t have to take out a second
mortgage, or sell your new vehicle to cover business expenses.
Paying Business Debt:
7. Payroll taxes and business taxes can hurt a small business, especially if you’ve sunk most of your
liquid capital into expansion plans. A cash advance is an excellent source of funds to pay the IRS or
Franchise Tax Board, or for you to stay current with your vendors during seasonal slumps.
Expanding the Business:
Expanding a business can take as many forms as there are kinds of businesses. A restaurant owner
may want to open a second location or add more tables. A retail store might want to buy additional
merchandise for resale or add staff in order to extend operating hours. Any number of small
businesses might want to increase (or create) their advertising budget, or improve their online
presence.
Whatever your needs, a cash advance
from Merchant Cash Advance is an
excellent source of liquid capital. Whether
you apply for funds with a plan in mind,
or because of a financial emergency, if
you can demonstrate that your business
has a successful track record of credit
and/or debit card sales, it is likely that we
can help you.
Merchant Cash Advance with full information
It’s no secret that today’s market is pretty tight. Consumers are being more cautious about their
spending, and many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, let alone expand. For many
businesses, an injection of capital would make the difference between a slow season or a sensational
one, but where to get it.
While small business loans are certainly an option, they can be incredibly difficult to get, especially
since banks focus more on credit scores than on the viability of a new or existing company. That’s
why many small business owners choose a merchant cash advance.
Like a business loan, a merchant cash advance from Merchantcashadvancers.com is a sum of money
that is meant to be spent on your business, and then repaid with interest. Unlike a loan, cash
advances do not require personal guarantees or collateral; nor do they typically have a fixed
repayment schedule.
Instead of borrowing money, as you do with a loan, you are selling a percentage of your future
receivables (generally in the form of credit card receipts) to us at a discount.
8. For example, if you own a restaurant and need $30,000 to update the kitchen and remodel the dining
room, you might agree to sell Merchant Cash Advance Nation $35,000 in future credit card sales. As
part of the cash advance agreement, we’ll arrange for a small percentage of every credit or debit card
transaction to be transferred to us until the entire balance has been paid. In most cases this takes less
than a year, which is much less time than it takes to pay off a loan.
Because payments are based on percentages, you’ll be making smaller repayments when business is
slow and larger ones when business picks up, rather than having to face a fixed monthly payment.
This makes cash flow much easier to manage.
Unlike a business loan, cash advances have a high approval rate. While you must still demonstrate
that your business has a successful track record, Merchant Cash Advance Nation, like most cash
advance providers, does not look at credit scores. Instead, we want to see several months of credit
and debit card sales receipts, usually with a minimum volume of $5,000/month. (That said, there are
a couple of things that can disqualify you,
like an open bankruptcy.)
Another advantage of a merchant cash
advance is that there are no restrictions on
how you use the funds. Common uses for
cash advances include purchasing new or
seasonal inventory, updating equipment,
remodeling, paying business taxes or
vendor invoices, or even using the money
for payroll.
How do you know if a business cash
advance is right for you? If you want access
to quick cash, without restrictions, and a
repayment schedule based on real-time cash
flow, working with a Merchant Cash Advance is definitely something you should consider.
What is a merchant cash advance and how it works
Are you in a business were credit card sales are just a part of it? Are you or have you been
looking for a way of obtaining cash to grow you business? Have you been hurt by the economy
and having a rough time getting a traditional loan? Well listen to what you are about to hear!
When you obtain a merchant cash advance you are taking a loan out on your future credit card
sales.Granted you need to have proof of sales to obtain a merchant cash advance it is not that
9. hard to do.With your last 12 months of credit records and some basic information you could be
on your way to obtaining cash for future credit card purchases. This is the basics of the merchant
cash advance they pay you a loan for percentages on you future sales. It is usually a low
percentage that is over an extended amount of time as to not hurt the business but tomake sure
the loan gets paid back.
Lots of merchant service companies have
the ability to lend upwards to a million
dollars for proven companies.You can use
this cash for working capital, opening
additional locations, renovation or
remodeling of business, equipment
purchase, advertising, additional
inventory purchase. The lending
institution wants your company to grow
so they can be paid
back sooner. Without sales they don’t get
paid!
There are many advantages to a merchant cash advance that will greatly help your business.
Here are a few examples! No up front fees or cost to apply. No personal guarantees. No
collateral required. No fixed payments. No set time frame for payback. Fast turn around time.
An on going source of capital which is renewable as the advance is paid down. No upfront fees
or costly paperwork to apply. Keep in mind when getting a cash advance that there are many
different lenders out there and they all have there own sets of rules. They are all pretty much the
same but just something to watch for on the small print! I hope this information has been helpful
there will be plenty of more to come this week on the topic of merchant cash dvance.